Collections Item Detail

DescriptionBlack-and-white photos, five, of a life test, Black & Decker circular saw torture test, at or near United States Testing Co. facility, 1415 Park Ave., Hoboken. No date, circa 1970-1980. 8" x 10" wide prints; documentation or publicity photographs taken by staff of the Photographic Department. Reverse of most are blank - see descriptions below. Donor Bill Willard (a long-time employee of the company) provided primary description of scene. All photos include two young men cutting wood at an outside location believed to be grounds behind the main building. Photo 1: daytime view looking northeast with the Franklin Baker building (white) in the left background and the former Lipton Tea / Standard Brands building in the far right background. One man is seen using the saw to cut 2" x 12" wood. A chalk board is seen behind with name of the test and "elapsed time" for which there is no note. Photo 2: a dusk view looking northwest; a designed banner sign is in the background: Black & Decker (trademark logo) Saw Torture Test. Piles of cut pieces are on the ground and a fire is seen in a steel drum to the left. Photo 3: a night scene, direction not determined; labeled in ink in lower margin: 7152A. A staged photo? There are two men sleeping on folding cots (one with a leopard print blanket / throw) about ten feet from where the saw is being used. It is unlikely a person would nap with amount of noise that is typical of such an electric tool in use. Fire is seen in the steel drum behind the man using the saw. Photo 4: a night scene with the same banner sign in view as seen in photo 2; two copies - copy 1 numbered in pencil on back 7152-B. Photo 5: a night scene with the banner partially seen and a large pile of offcut or now scrap wood in the foreground. --- Engineering Business & Commerce Sciences Exteriors Signs Buildings